Chapter 242: Past Times and Future Challenges

“This is… the one I made back then…!?”

Upon seeing the trial of the holy land, I remembered that this was the athletic obstacle course I had built in my life before last.

At the time, I was serving a certain king.

One day, the king’s youngest daughter—the princess—said she wanted to fight the demons too.

The vassals hurriedly tried to stop her, saying they couldn’t put the princess in danger, but troublingly, the king allowed it. After all, the king was exceedingly doting on his youngest princess, who was born late in his life.

That being said, it was impossible for a princess with no proper training to fight demons. Even if they threw money at the problem and equipped her with the best gear, the result would be the same.

Therefore, the vassals proposed to the king that they build a training facility for the princess. They argued that it would be too dangerous unless she underwent some minimum training first. Their true intention, however, was to hope the princess would get bored halfway through.

Naturally, with all the vassals persuading him, the king couldn’t flatly refuse. As a result, a training facility for fighting demons was to be constructed.

Well, the whole thing was dumped entirely onto me, though.

The request wasn’t just for a simple training facility.

In the unlikely event the princess got hurt, the medical equipment had to be top-notch. Furthermore, to make the princess forget her objective, various temptations were to be prepared.

Specifically, things like the hot spring facility everyone went into.

Originally, that was meant to quickly show the results of training by efficiently super-recovering an exhausted body, and it had the effect of healing scratches. But the princess’s maids said that if I added beauty effects, the princess would surely forget about fighting and get absorbed in becoming beautiful. So, I installed the skin-beautifying functions.

On a side note, the princess was apparently fickle and hated training alone, so the facility was enlarged so she could invite friends to work hard with her. Of course, the objective was to have the princess get absorbed in playing with her friends instead.

That was the true identity of this facility now called the holy land.

Good grief, no wonder it looked familiar.

The buildings of the holy land and this trial—they are undoubtedly the facilities I made back then. It was such a troublesome and annoying job that I might have been subconsciously trying to forget it…

“But why did this become the holy land?”

That’s the only thing I don’t really get. Why on earth?

The first thing that comes to mind is the collapse of the ancient civilization I lived in back then. Even after I died, the battle against the demons seemed to have been quite fierce, and the terrain changing was a common occurrence. In fact, the area around the holy land is a barren wasteland, and the buildings from that era were nowhere to be found.

Only the buildings of this holy land remain, but that’s probably because this facility was built with a considerable amount of money put into it, considering the princess’s safety. After all, since the royal family was involved, the budget was quite something.

Thanks to that, without worrying about the budget, I abundantly incorporated new technologies and technologies that were still in the experimental phase. I guess that’s the only good thing about it.

Anyway, even if the surrounding land was reduced to a blank slate for some reason, this facility alone must have survived thanks to defensive devices like barriers activating.

Thinking about it that way, the fact that only women can enter the holy land is probably related to the fact that I set up a “strictly no boys allowed” barrier for the princess’s safety. Well, in reality, the reason was so the princess wouldn’t use it to secretly meet up with boys, though.

However, what bothers me is the part where they say gods are involved in this facility.

During the time I was dead, the “White Calamity” rampaged and the surface world seemed to be in terrible shape, so perhaps the gods evacuated six young people to this facility that luckily remained unharmed.

Hmm, thinking that a facility I built saved ancient people makes me feel both proud and embarrassed.

While I was thinking about the former facility that came to be called the holy land in that manner, the explanation by the priests of the holy land began.

“The trial consists of four stages. The temple that overcomes these stages and obtains the Divine Artifact enshrined in the deepest part will be the victor.”

“Eeeh!? We can touch a Divine Artifact!?”

At the priests’ words, Tracy-san raised a voice of excitement.

“Hey, what is a Divine Artifact?”

Liliera-san asked Tracy-san.

“A-A Divine Artifact is an item bestowed upon the six young people by the gods. It is said that the six young people used those Divine Artifacts to restore peace to this land and make the gods’ majesty known to the world.”

“Heeh.”

A Divine Artifact, huh. I don’t remember making anything that would be called that, so I wonder if it’s truly something made by the gods? If so, it must be an incredible item.

Yeah, I might be getting a little interested.

“Hmph, you participated without even knowing that?”

As we were making a fuss over the Divine Artifact, someone spoke to us.

“For those who serve the gods to not even know about the Divine Artifacts, wouldn’t it be better to relearn the teachings of the church once more? Well, I suppose one cannot expect much education in that regard from the likes of those summoned merely to bolster your combat power.”

“You are…”

The one who spoke to us was a priest wearing vestments adorned with the holy symbol of the War God.

“What’s your problem, you pickin’ a fight?”

The one who reacted to that was Jairo-kun. He glared head-on at the War God’s priest who was sending us a provocative gaze.

“Hmph, you again, little girl.”

“Hah? I don’t know the likes of you, you know?”

I thought it was an acquaintance of Jairo-kun’s, but apparently not.

“Fine. I will let this slide for now. Once the trial begins, the likes of you will quickly drop out anyway.”

“What did you say, you bastard!!”

“However, I will give you some credit for making it this far. If you reflect on your actions after seeing our victorious figures, I will allow you to convert and join our Temple of the War God. Hahahahahaha!”

Saying only that, the War God’s priest left us.

“Who the hell would join, idiot!”

However, having been one-sidedly spat at, Jairo-kun looked unable to suppress his indignation.

“Calm down. The point is, we just have to win.”

The one who stopped him was Mina-san.

“That’s right. If we overtake opponents who already think they’ve won and achieve a landslide victory, they’ll be completely humiliated.”

“Umm, I think we’re being a bit too overconfident, but I think winning and proving them wrong is a good idea, you know?”

Meguri-san and Norb-san also soothed Jairo-kun, telling him they just needed to win and get back at them.

“Tch, I guess that’s true.”

Provoked and heated up, Jairo-kun regained his composure after being reasoned with by everyone.

“…Good teamwork.”

I felt a warmth watching that scene.

It was exactly like an episode from Ryguard’s adventures, during the Battle of Taslania. Ryguard, having fallen into a pinch due to a mistake that caused their strategy to fail, regained his composure thanks to his comrades’ words, and instead used that mistake to win the battle.

“Yeah, even if the time comes when I get heated up and lose myself, the current me has comrades who will reason with me.”

I glanced over at my party member, Liliera-san.

“No, impossible. I wouldn’t be able to hold you back.”

“Kyuun.”

“Eeeh!?”

Even Fluffy-chan was looking as if to say, Impossible, impossible!?

Isn’t this the part where you say, “I will definitely calm you down!” or something!?

However, Liliera-san crossed her arms in an X and shook her head, saying “No waaay.”

Ugh, our teamwork isn’t quite there yet, huh…

Come to think of it, Jairo-kun and the others have been together since they were young. I guess the years of experience are just different.

“We will now begin the trial. Everyone, prepare yourselves.”

Oops, no good, I need to focus on the trial soon.

“Then, let the trial… begin!!”

” ” ” ” ” ” Uwoooooooooooh!!! ” ” ” ” ” “

And so, the trial finally began, and the participants dashed out all at once…

” ” ” ” ” ” Uboaaaaaaaaaa!!! ” ” ” ” ” “

The participants were all blown away at once.

“…Huh?”

◆ War God’s Priest Santoi◆

The final trial had finally begun.

The pilgrimage is held anywhere from a few years to several decades apart, depending on the period, so there are many who have never experienced the trial.

But there is no need to worry.

Because every temple has passed down information detailing the contents of the trials for generations.

And based on the information left by our predecessors, the contents of the trials, how to conquer them, and their timings are recorded in detail.

Depending on the period the pilgrimage was held, the timings might be slightly off, but the trials of older eras are from a time when there was no information. There was no concept of gathering detailed information back then.

However, in recent years, thanks to an increase in people accompanying the participants solely to record the contents of the trials in detail, quite detailed information has been gathered.

Using this latest information, it is easy to understand exactly when to evade the incoming trials.

“Then, let the trial… begin!”

The trial began, and the participants started running.

First is the first trial, which begins immediately after the start.

Log-like poles jut out diagonally from the ground beside the course, blowing participants completely off the course.

A trap immediately after the start is a nasty thing, and surprisingly, many fall for it even if they know about it.

However, we, who know the contents of the trial inside out, also well understood the weaknesses of this trap.

One is that the timing and location where the poles emerge are constant.

The other is that if you run in a location away from where the poles jut out, you have plenty of leeway to evade them.

The only thing to be wary of is fools who have been blown away trying to grab onto you to take you down with them.

However, the declining Temple of the Chief God doesn’t have the luxury of personnel to gather detailed information like we do.

At best, it would just be the faint memories of when they desperately overcame the trials.

And the level of detail is completely different between someone who actually experienced it and someone recording it from a safe distance.

It’s the same as not being able to obtain detailed information about a monster while actively fighting it.

Therefore, there is no element for us to lose!

Little girls, I will be returning the favor for that time!

“And then I’ll take you back to our temple and teach you the joy of serving the War God, and the pleasure of submitting to me—pogyaaah!!”

I didn’t know what happened.

All I knew was that I was dancing in the air.

Why? Did I fall for a trap?

Impossible, I know all the locations and timings of the traps, and I’ve even trained for them.

Then why was I blown away!?

Something to grab onto… there’s no way there is anything.

My comrades… are being blown away together with me.

Impossible! Me, in the very beginning!?

“It’s ov…”

For me, an elite of the Temple of the War God, to end so ungracefully without being able to do a single thing!?

My mind goes completely blank at that fact… it was then.

“Whoops, that was close.”

Someone grabbed my arm, preventing me from being blown away.

“Wha, wha!?”

Did a comrade still survive!

So I hoped, but the moment I saw the face of the opponent who grabbed my arm, confusion enveloped my mind.

“Hah?”

“Hey, hey, don’t do something as pathetic as getting disqualified right off the bat.”

The one who grabbed my arm was that little girl named Janet.

“Wh-Why?”

Why did you save me, an enemy? I tried to ask, but my surprise was so great that my voice wouldn’t come out.

“There’s no ‘why’. Don’t just go flying off on your own after picking a fight with us.”

“What is your goal!?”

“I don’t have one. You picked a fight with me. It’d be boring if I didn’t thoroughly beat you and prove you wrong. That’s all.”

U-Unbelievable. This is a serious competition, you know? If an enemy self-destructs on their own, it would be the utmost good fortune. To throw that away with such naive reasoning, what do you intend to do!?

“Listen here, you picked a fight with me. If so, get fired up and fight to the very end! I’m gonna smash through that head-on and win!”

Saying only that, the little girl returned to the trial.

“…Is she an idiot?”

Unbelievable, why would she do something so pointless?

This is a battle with the prestige of the temple on the line, you know? A glorious battle that must be won no matter what cowardly means are used, right? If you win this battle, you can get promoted as much as you desire, you know?

Is that little girl saying that doesn’t matter as long as she sticks to her own pride?

How foolish, how shallow, how childish…

“But why… why do I feel so pleasant about it?”

No matter how you think about it, that little girl’s behavior is wrong.

It should be wrong, and yet… I couldn’t help but feel my chest grow hot at that mistake.

Just like that day when I first became a priest, just like when I was a naive brat who thought proudly of only protecting the believers.

“…”

Words won’t come out, but my body naturally stands up.

My chest is hot, my body is hot, my heart is hot.

Running before my eyes is a back that is far more delicate and smaller than mine.

But how incredibly large that back looks.

“Very well, I will overtake that back and show you!!”

Aiming for that small yet large back, I started running.